Apparatus for orienting tools



Now/.17,1942 G, L, KQTHNY 2,302,330

APPARATUS FOR ORIENTING TOOLS v Filed March 6, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Nov, 17, 1942.

' Filed March-6, 1942 c. L.. KOTHNY APPARATUS FOR ORIENTING TOOLS By li.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 17, 1942 APPARATUS FOR ORIENTING TOOLSGottdank L. Kothny, Stratford, Pa., assignor to Sperry-Sun WellSurveying Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of DelawareApplication March 6, v1942, Serial No. 433,559

5 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for orienting tools in a bore holeand in particular to means adapted both for eiecting orientation and forthe removal of a tool from the hole.

In'my prior application Serial No. 366,113, filed November 18, 1940,there is described a method and apparatus for orienting tools in a' borehole,v this application comprising certain improvements in the mattersof various prior patents and applications, for example, Patents2,107,420, 2,234,438 and 2,261,393, and application Serial No. 355,881,filed September 9, 1940. Briey stated, these Various patents andapplications relate to the setting of a whipstock or other tool inoriented position within a bore hole with provision for drillingdirectionally and subsequent removing of the tool such as a whipstockfrom the hole. For accomplishing this purpose there is provided, in thecase of whipstock setting, a sub above the collar or other element ofthe drill stem to which the whipstock is secured by means of a shearpin, which sub is provided with outwardly movable members designedtoengage the whipstockfollowing a drilling operation to remove it fromthe hole. In a preferred type of operation as described moreparticularly in said application Serial No. 366,113, referred to above,.the members which are adapted to remove the drill stem perform theadditional function of taking a rotational load as the whipstock isrotated by means of the drill stem not only for nally adjusting it toorienting position, but duringa period of removal of an orientingsurveying instrument and the determination of the proper setting.

The present invention relates to improvements in a retrieving subconstruction adapted for the practice of essentially the methoddescribed in the aforesaid application. v

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a sub in whichWear on the operating parts by abrasive mud is prevented during use.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means for insuringproper loperation despite possible failure of jamming of a spring..

Still another object is the provision of controlling means in the formof a single, easily replaceable unit.

These and other objects of the invention, particularly relating todetails of construction, will become apparent from the followingdescription, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Figure 1 is an axial section through one form of the improved retrievingsub Figure 2 is a transverse section taken on the plane indicated at 2-2in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken on the plane indicated at 3-3 inFigure 1,; and

Figure 4 is an axial section of a modified form of retrieving sub.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, the retrieving sub comprises acylindrical body 2.provide'd with threads 4 and 6 for attachment toother parts making up the drill string. At 4, for example, there may besecured either the lower end of the drill string or an orienting subwhich is in turn lconnected to the drill string,-the orlentv ing sub,for example, being of the type illustrated in Hyer Patent 2,120,670, forthe purpose of orientation. To the lower end of the sub 2, there may besecured a drill collar and/or bit towhich the collar of a whipstock maybe secured by means of a conventional shear pin. In such case, the upperend of the collar desirably embraces the lowermost portions of the subto give rise to an assembly of the character indicated inv Figure 8 ofsaid application Serial No. 366,113. Since the present invention relatesprimarily to construction of the sub, which is used as described in saidapplication, this known method of association of the sub with awhipstock is not shown herein.

Provision for mud circulation is made through the extension of thesocket 4 in the form of a bore 8 in the upper portion of the sub 2. Atthe lower portion 'of the sub, a bore I0 communicates with the socket 6,being closed at its upper end by the solid metal, as indicated at l2.Openings I4 and I6 are provided extending from the bores 8 and I0 toside channelsv I8, as indicated in Figure 2, which take the form ofgrooves milled or otherwise formed in the sides ofthe sub 2 and closedby members 20 welded thereto. Pivoted loosely at 24 on pins extendingacross slots in the opposite sides of the sub are engaging members 22which are urged outwardly by a strong spring 26 located 'in a transversebore in the-sub. These engaging members 22 are provided with soft metalrivets 28 formed of copper or the like which extend slightly beyond thecylindrical boundaries of the sub asndicated in the drawing. f

In the lowermost portion of the bore 8 there is provided a metal sleeve,indicated at 30, the region in the lower end of which communicatesthrough openings 32 with the channels I8. In a a seat in this bore, isanother sleeve 34, which is E held in fixed position by means of a setscrew 36, preferably engaged by a locking screw 38, both threadedthrough the wall of the sub. A pin 40 threaded in the sleeve .34projects across an opening therein through slots 42 in a plunger member44. On theupper end of this plunger member there is threaded a head 46provided with a socket adapted to be engaged by a godevil, which head 46locks a packing cup member 46 against an annular ring 50, the lower endof which is engaged by a compression spring 52 reacting between it and ashoulder within the sleeve 34. The lower end of the plunger 44 carries apair of projections 54 adapted to engage and hold latch extensions 56provided on the upper ends of the engaging members 22. These elementsare rounded and beveled as indicated for the purpose hereafterdescribed. A packing cup 56 is clamped at the lower end of the member 44by a nut 60 and bears upon the inner surface of the sleeve 30.

Communication between the channels I8 and the region immediately abovethe packing cup 48 is provided by means of openings 6l.

The outward movement of the engaging members 22 is limited by contact offaces 62 on the extensions thereof with shoulders 54 formed internallyin the sub body.

In the use of this arrangement, the collar of the whipstock extendsabove the position of the upper ends of the engaging members 22, whichoccupy the outward positions indicated in chain lines, being received inlongitudinal slots in the whipstock collar, desirably with closeclearance so that upon rotation of the whipstock by means of the sub,stresses 'are transferred through the engaging members 22 rather thanthrough a shear pin which, below the level of the sub, secures thewhipstock to a drill collar or bit. Thus assembled, the whipstock bitand sub and other elements, including for examplean orientation sublocated above sub 2, are lowered on a sectional drill stem toapproximately the depth at which the whipstock will be ultimately fixed.The drill stem and the parts carried thereby may now be rotated while awell surveying instrument is lowered through the same to a position tomake a record of orientation, for example, in accordance with the Hyerpatent mentioned above. During such rotation, stresses are taken by thehardened engaging members 22 rather than by the relatively weak shearpin. which must ultimately be sheared oif. When the surveying instrumentreaches its proper level, the drill stem may be moved up and down, i.e., spudded, so that torsional strains are taken out of the assembly andthen the entire assembly is held at rest for sufficient time for thesurveying instrument to make a record. At this time, the position of therotary table may be noted at the surface.

As soon as sufficient time has elapsed for the making of the record, thesurveying instrument may be withdrawn by its supporting wire line, orretrieved by means of an overshot if it was originally dropped ingo-devil fashion, and during such withdrawal the drill stem may be againrotated, at which time the stresses of rotation will again be assumed bythe engaging members 22. After the record is analyzed and the properposition of the drill stem ascertained, the rotary table may be turnedto a position, as determined by the marks thereon and the record of thesurveying instrument, to bring the whipstock to the desired position,whereupon spudding is again effected to insure that stresses in thesystem are removed and the whipstock properly lined up.

Following this, the weight of the drill stem is caused to rest on theshear pin, first driving the whipstock into the earth at the bottom ofthe bore hole to anchorit, and thereafter shearing off the pin so thatdrilling may be accomplished.

The whipstock under these circumstances, and as indicated in saidapplication Serial No. 336,113, desirably has a tapered or conicalregion at the lower portion of its collar, so that as the sub movesdownwardly, the rivets 28 will engage this surface. with the result thatthe engaging members 22 are cammed inwardly against the pressure of thespring 26. As this 'inward movement occurs, the rounded ends of thelatch extension 56 will ride over the beveled portions of extensions 54.camming the member 44 downwardly until they move inwardly to asufficient extent to clear these members, whereupon the member 44 willbe moved upwardly by the action of spring 52 to latch the engagingmembers 22 in their inner position. As the sub moves further downwardly,if the most restricted portion of the whipstock collar is too small forthe passage of the rivets 26, they will be sheared off. Even if they arenot sheared off at this time, however, they will in general be worn orbroken away during the subsequent drilling.

Except for the possible continued projection of the rivets 2l, the subnow presents a cylindrical aspect. and consequently drilling may occurdown the face of the whipstock in usual fashion without engagement ofany projecting parts with the whipstock or earth.

If it is desired to withdraw the drill stem, for example to change thebit, while leaving the whipstock in position in the hole, withdrawal maybe effected without disturbing the whipstock position if the engagingmembers 22 remain latched inwardly. If, however, at the time of initialwithdrawal or at the time of some subsequent withdrawal it is desired toremove the whipstock, it is only necessary to drop a go-devil throughthe drillstem to engage the head 46 of the plunger 44 so that by itsweight it may compress the spring 52 and so release the engaging members22 for outward movement under pressure of the spring 26. When they moveoutwardly in this fashion, they will be in position to engage the collarof the whipstock so that subsequent raising of the drill stem will raisethe whipstock with it.

The above operations are essentially similar to those involved in theoperation of the device of said application Serial No. 366,113, and noclaim is made thereto in the present application,

The present improvements relate to matters of auxiliary consideration incarrying out the above. During the periods of rotation. both in-l volvedin the setting of the whipstock and the subsequent drilling, circulationof mud occurs and the retrieving sub is subjected to this circulationthroughout quite extended periods. Quite large hydrostatic pressuredifferences may occur in the apparatus between, for example. the passage6 and the exterior of the drill stem due to restricted passages throughthe bit and the throttling of iiow,vparticularly at the bit duringdrilling when a relatively large quantity oi mud is being recirculated.Such a pressure difference if permitted to produce a flow past thevarious operating parts of the retrieving sub,

will very rapidly wear these parts, since the solid m-aterials carriedby the mud are generally highly abrasive. Without adequate protection,for

example, such ow of mud would wear away the engaging members 22 bypassing between them and their clearances with the Walls of the slots inwhlth they are located, and additionally mounting parts of a movablemember such as 44 would be badly worn. Furthermore, it is possible undersuch circumstances for sediment to pack in the spring chambers or thelike to such extent as possible to prevent the springsfrom performingtheir intended functions.

In the `present construction, the packing 42, located where the sleeve34 seats within the bore 8 and the cups 4'8 and 58 completely protectthe moving portions of the device -against the hydrostatic pressuredifferences between the inside and outside of the sub. A relativelysmall pressure gradient will exist between the upper and lower ends ofthe channels I8, but neglecting this as a rst approximation, it will beseen that the major pressure existing in the bore 8 and these channelswill be applied to" the insides of the cups 48 and 58, which, properlyfitting the bores of the sleeves 34 and 30, respectively, will resistany iniiltration of mud to the region about the latches 56 from which itmight pass to the exterior of thesub about the engaging members 22.These packing cups 48 operate in usual fashion, with the result thatincrease in pressure tends merely to force them more tightly intoengagement with the bores in which they slide.

In view of the existence of some pressure gradient in the channels I8,it is desirable to insure that this pressure gradient ycannot act totend to trip the device and permit engaging members 22 to moveoutwardly. To avoid this, not only; is the pressure within the channelsapplied to the opposite ends of the plunger 44 in balanced fashion, butthe inside diameter of the sleeve 30 is made slightly greater than theinside diameter of the sleeve 34, so, that, even though the pressurewithin the sleeve 30 may be somewhat less than that existing above thepacking 48, there is a net pressure upwards aiding the spring 62 to holdthe latching means in engagement. 'I'hese differences in diameter willtake care of any increased gradients due to increased rates of flow. Thechannels I8 are,- of course, made as large as possible so that thegradient between the two ends of the plunger in pounds per square inchwill be a minimum.

The modication of Figure 4 resembles to a considerable extent that ofFigures 1, 2 and 3. The sub body in this case, indicated at 10, isprovided with upper and lower sockets 12 and 14, respectively, adaptedfor the same attachments as the sockets 4 and 6 ofthe previouslydescribed modiiication. The bore 18 .extending from the socket 12communicates with the bore 18 extending from the socket 14 through sidechannels connected to the bores by passages 80 and 82, respectively.These channels communicate also with an intermediate regionof the bore16 through smaller passages 83 to effect a pressure balance. Pivoted'loosely at 84, as in the previous modication, are engaging members 86carrying copper or other soft metal rivets 88 and being urged outwardlyby a spring or a plurality of springs, ras indicated at 90. A mountingmember 92 is secured in the bore 1'6 by means of threaded pins 94, andis surmounted by a packing cup 96, which is clamped by means of a nut 98forming the lower abutment for a pressure spring which at its upper endengages and forces upwardly the head of a plunger |02, which l0 othermodlcation. In the present case. the passage of any mud by the member 92is prevented by the cup 96. It will beevid'ent that' in this Ycase thepressure gradient across the member 92 will be essentially the entirediiierence in pressure existing between the bore 16 and the portion ofthe bore hole outside the sub. Thestuillng nox |04 and the cup 96 resistthis pressure, though, as will be evident, it exerts on the plunger |02a net downward pressure equal `to the 20 pressure in pounds per squareinch multiplied by the cross-sectional area of the portion of |02 'whereit passes through the stutling box |04.

Openings |05 insure equalization of pressure between the upper and lowerfaces of the member |06. The plunger |02, however, may be ofrelativelyvsmall diameter where it passes l'through the stuiilng box,and in this modification the spring |00 is made sufficiently strong toprevent any tripping of the latches by reason ofy the existing pressuregradient.

l IBesides the features above described,v it will be noted that bothmodifications have in-common a construction involving a removableassembly of the plunger parts, i. e., in the modication of Figure 1 uponwithdrawal of the pin 36, the

sleeve 34, the spring and all the movable parts may be removed as aunit'. Likewise, in the modiflcation of Figure 4 by removal of the pins94, the spring member 92 and allthe Vremovable 40 parts may be removedtogether. i

What I claim and desire to protect,by Letters Patent is: y

1. Means for eectlng removal of a Whipstock or the like from abore holecomprising a body arranged to be included in a drill string above a bit,means carried by said body and expandible outwardly to engage and lift awhlpstock or the like with the drill string, spring means urging saidexpandlble means outwardly, and means for' latching said expandiblemeans inwardly against said spring actionthe last mentioned meanscomprising a sleeve member mounted in a bore ln said body exposed to'entrance of mud under pressureduring drilling, a plunger slidableaxiallyin said sleeve, packing between said plunger and sleeve, packingbetween said sleeve and the walls-of the bore in which it is located,and spring means reacting between said plunger and sleeve member, saidplunger being engageable with said 30 expandible means to effectsaidlatching action,

and said sleeve, plunger, and last named spring means being removablefrom the body asa unit. 2. Means for eiecting removal of a whipstock orthe like from a bore hole comprising a body arranged to be included in adrill string above a bit, means carried by said body and expandibleoutwardly to engage and lift a whipstock or the .like with the drillstring, and means for controlling said expandible means, the lastmentioned means comprising a sleeve member mounted in a bore in said body exposed to entrance of mud under pressure during drilling, a plungerslidable axially in said sleeve, packing between said plunger andsleeve, packing between said sleeve passes through a stumng box |04formed in the 75 and the walls of the-borein which it is located,

and spring means reacting between said plunger and sleeve member, saidplunger serving by its movement to control said expandible means, andsaid. sleeve, plunger, and last named spring means being removable fromthe body as a unit'.

3. Means for effecting removal ot a whipstock or the like from a borehole, comprising a body arranged to be included in a drill string abovea bit,I means carried by said body and expandible outwardly to engageand lift a whipstock or the like with the drill string, and means forcontrolling said expandible means, the last mentioned means comprising aplunger, means for guiding saidV plunger for axial' movements withinsaid bore, means for Apacking the plunger within its guiding means, andspring means for urging said plunger in one direction, said plungerbeing exposed to mud pressure during drilling at both of its ends andpresenting thereat areas subject to the pressure such that said pressureresults in a net application oi' force to the plunger tending to move itin the same direction as said spring means.

4. Means for effecting removal of a whipstock v vor the like from a borehole comprising a body arranged to be included in a drill string above abit, means carried by said body and expandlble outwardly to engage andlift a whipstock or the like with the drill string, and means forcontrolsaid plunger against the action oi the last named guiding means,and spring means for urging said plunger upwardly, said plunger beingexposed to mud pressure during drilling at both oi' its ends andpresenting to the pressure a larger area at its lower end than at itsupper end so that said pressure results in a net application oi force tothe plunger tending to move it upwardly, said plunger being'adapted tobe moved downwardly by the action of a go-devil thereon.

5. Means for eilecting removal oi a whipstock or the like from a borehole comprising a body arranged to be included in a drill string above abit, means carried by said body and expandible outwardly to engage andlitt a whipstock or the like with the drill string, spring means urgingsaid expandible means outwardly, and means for latching said expandiblemeans inwardly against said spring action, the last mentioned meanscomprising a plunger, means for guiding said plunger for axial movementswithin said bore. means for packing the plunger within its guidingmeans, and spring means for urging said plunger in one direction, saidplunger being engageable with said expandible means to elect saidlatching action and said plunger and expandible means having cooperatingrelatively slidable surfaces so that forced inward movement of saidexpandible means serves to cam spring means to effect said latchingaction after predetermined inward movement of the expandible means.

GOITDANK L. KOTHNY.

